Board of Education member Breene Harimoto resigned this morning, saying he plans to run for City Council.

His term ends in 2012.

Harimoto will remain on the board until June 30.

“I have been truly blessed to have been able to serve on the Board of Education. I have done my best to serve the people of the state of Hawaii with honor and integrity in support of our public schools,” Harimoto said, in a news release. “I will continue to be a strong advocate for our public schools.”

Harimoto, the board’s Leeward district board member, served on the BOE for eight years. He was chairman in 2004 and 2005.

Harimoto has for months expressed frustrations with the board’s operations and in January called for the resignation of board Chairman Garrett Toguchi.

Harimoto said he plans to remain as executive director of the Pearl City Foundation-Momilani Community Center.

He will run for the City Council’s district 8, which will be vacated by Gary Okino, who cannot run for re-election because of term limits.